Cotton-picker.



PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

H. P. GHILDRESS.

COTTON PICKER. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 14. 1905.

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PATBNTED 8118.7 H; P. GHILDRESS.

COTTON PICKER. APIfLIoATIoN FILED Nov.14.,1,9u5..

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' DREss, a citizen ofthe United States, residing UNTFD STATES PATENT OF FICE.

HENDERSON P. CHILDRESS, OF NEW YORK, Y.

COTTON-PHQKER.

Specification of Letters iEatent.

Patented Aug. 7, i906.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.- Be it known that I, HENDERSON P. CHIL- at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented a new l and useful Cotton-Picker, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to that class of pickers wherein a mechanical device is employed that detaches the cotton from the boll and delivers it to suitable conveying means.

The principal object in the present case is to provide an improved device of the above character that will eiiectively pick the lintcotton and will eliminate, to a very material degree, the danger of collecting sticks 'and other trash with the same.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherenv Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of picking mechanism, the casings being' shown in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view through the picking device. vertical longitudinal'sectional view through the structure. Fig.' 5 is a top plan view of the other embodiment of the picking mechanism, the casings being also shown in section. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view through the icking device. Fig. 8 is a ver- '.tical longitu 'nal .sectional view through the structure', and Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the rin s or bands.

Similar reference c aracters designate corresponding parts in all the-iigures of the drawings. l

In the embodiment illustralted iin the first four fl es a su ort is emp oye comprising 'spbld bars I5)?to and between which is journaled a pulley 6. Around the pulley 6 passes a conveyer-belt 7, that 1s provided on its outer side with cotton-engaging teeth 8.

Between the' front ends of the supportingbars 5 is located the picking device, which'secures the cotton from the plant and delivers A ends ofthe bars 5, said drum having a peit to the teeth 8 of the conveyer-belt 7. l This device in the resent instance consists of a hollow drum aving'heads 9, journaled on stationary bearings 10, secured to the front ripheral wall 11, provided between its ends with'an annular enlargement of greater diameter than the wall, said enlargement consist- 'sets of pickingto permit the movement of the ring u on the drum. An aXle 13is 'mounted in t e stationary bearings 10 in advance of and consequently'eccentric to the axis of rotation of the drum. On this axle Ais mounted a hub member 14. Connected to the hub member 14 by means of ivot-pins 15 is a lurality of lingers 16, which ngers pass through guides 17, pivoted at their outer ends in the drum, and through the peri heral wall 11 of said drum. Certain of the ngers extend on opposite sides of the ring 12. Others pass directly through the ring.

The above-described picking apparatus is operated fromthe cotton-conveyer pulley 6 also incloses and protec'ts the gearing. Fig. 4 is a f The operation ofthe device may be briefly described as follows: The cotton-conveying belt 7 being operated from any suitable source of power will rotate the pulley 6, and, as a consequence, the picking-drumwill also be revolved. The fingers as they pass around the front portion of the device will beL projected and as the pass around the rear portion. of the same be withdrawn into the drum, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 4. If, therefore, the picking device is presented to a boll, the projecting fingers will engage the cottonand'detach the same from such boll, carrying it rearwardly to the teeth of the conveyer-belt 8. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that while the central iingers of each set .are completely retracted those on the opposite sides of said ring are not completely mclosed. The ring or band` 1s left loose in order to allow for the peculiar movements of the outer ends 'of the fingers. The teeth 8, however, willl remove the cotton from the picking device. If the teeth should engage a limb, stalk, orpother objectionable device of the character, it will rest upon the band 12, andas the teeth passing through said band are completely retracted said limb or stalk will be released. This will be apparent b reference to Fig. 4, wherein a device of the character is shown at A. As a result,it will be clear that while the device is entirely IIO efficient for picking cotton, because of the arrangement shown, the quantity of trash gathered is materially reduced.

Another, and probably the preferred form of structure,is illustrated in Flgs. 5 to 9. In this embodiment a support is employed com-` prising spaced bars 5a, to and between which is journaled a pulley 6a. Around this pulley passes the usual conveyer-belt 7a, provided on its outer side with cotton-engaging teeth'Sa. Between the front ends ofthe supportingbars 5a is located the picking device. In this form of the invention the said device consists of the usual hollow drum having heads 9, ournaled on stationa bearings 10a, secured to the front ends of ltiie bars 5a, said drum having a peripheral Wall 11a. Instead of one band or ring a plurality of the same, 12a, are employed, disposed in spaced lrelation and freely mounted upon the peripheral wall. An axle 13, located in the stationary bearings 10a in advance of and conse uently eccentric to the axis of rotation o the drum, supports a hub member 14a. Connected to the hub member by means of pivot-pins 158L is a plurality of sets of pickingfingers. 16a, which fingers pass through the usual guides 17a, ivoted at their outer end in the drum, said the annular bands or rings 12a. It will be observed that the said bands or rings are provided with circumferential channels or grooves 18a, through which the outer ends of the ngers operate. Suitable gearing 19a connects the pulley 6a with the drum, and casings 20, secured to the supporting-bars 5, cover the bearings, one of the casings also inclosing the gearing. The operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as that already described With the exception that as all of the fingers operate through the bands or guides and While their inner ends are disposed `slightly in projecting relation even when the fingers are in their innermost positions they will be arranged in the grooves 18, and a stalk or limb engaged by said fingers When in their projecting relations Will rest upon the annular flanges of the rings, so that the fingers will disengage therefrom when passing the forwardly-projecting teeth of the conveyer-belt.

From the foregoing' it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape,

proportion, and minor details of construction,

may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any'of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy I I l. In a cotton-picker,l the combination gers also passing through with a rotatable stripping-drum having a peripheral wall and an outer enlargement on the circumferential portion of said wall, said enlargement being of less width than the length of the drum of a picking-finger carried by the drum and movable through the enlargement into and out of the drum.

2. In a cotton-picker, the combination With a rotatable stripping-drum having a peripheral wall and a peripheral band extending about said wall and of less width than the length of the wall, of a picking-finger carried by the drum and movable throughthe band into and out of the drum.

3. In a cotton-picker, the combination with a rotatable stripping-drum having a peripheral wall, of a band loosely journaled on the peripheral wall, and a picking-finger carieddby the drum and movable through the 4. In a cotton-picker, the combination with a rotatable stri pping-drum having a peripheral wall, of a band loosely surrounding the peripheral wall of the drum, anda series of lingers eecentrically mounted Within the drum and extending through the band.

5. In a cotton-picker, the combination j with a rotatable stripping-drum having a peripheral Wall and a peripheral band extending about said wall and of less width than the length of the wall, said band having a circumferential groove, of fingers movable into and out of the drum through the band and extending through the groove.

6. In a cotton-picker, the combination with a rotatable drum, of a band or ring loosely surroundingthe drum and having a circumferential groove for-ming flanges on opposite sides of the sane, of aseries of fingers eccentrically mounted Within the drum and extending through the hand or ring between the anges.

7. In a cotton-picker, the combination with a rotatable stripping-drum having a peripheral wall provided between its ends wlth 1 1o a portion of greater diameter, said oil-tion be- IOO ing of less width than the length o the drum,

of picking-fingers .movable into and out of .the drum through the peripheral wall and the enlarged portion thereof.

8. In a cotton-picker, the combination with a rotatable strippin -drum including a peripheral wall having a and thereon, of a plurality of cotton-picking fingers shdable through the band and through the periphrzo eral Wall on o posite sides ofthe band, means for securing tihe inner ends of the fingers eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the drum, and means for rotating the drum. y

9. In a cotton-picker, the combination 12 5 with a support havinga pulley, of a conveyerbelt passing about the pulley, spaced bearings mounted on the sup ort in advance of the pulley, a drum journa ed on the bearings and 'having a peripheral wall, an annular 1 3.

band or ring surrounding the peripheral Wall and of less Width thanfsaid Wall, a hub secured to the bearings eeoentrieally of theaXis of rotation of the drum, and picker-lingers connected to the hub, said ioker-iingers passing through the peri hera Wall of the drum and the annular ban or ring.

10. In a cot ton-picker, the combination with a stripping-drum, of a plurality of fingers having their inner ends mounted in the drum eoeentrioally to the axis of movement thereof, guides for the fingers pivotally mounted on the drum, and a band extending around the drum and over the guides,'said band being of less Width than the length of the drum, and said fingers passing through the guides and band.

11. In a cotton-picker, the combination with a stripping-drum, of a plurality of bands or rings 'surrounding the drum and of less Width than the length of the same, and fingers movable into and out of the drum and passing through the various bands or rings.

12. In a cotton-picker, `the combination With a strippingvdrum having a peripheral Wall provided With transverse openings, of

guides pivoted at their outer ends in the openings, sets of fingers mounted at their in- 7 ner ends Within the drum eeoentroally to the bands or rings.

14. kIn .a cotton-picker, the combination with a stripping-drum, of a plurality of bands or rings loosely mounted upon and surrounding the drum, said bands or rings having annular grooves in their outer sides, and fingers movable into and out of the drum, said n- .gers passing through the various bands or rings and through thegrooves thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have'hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

HENDERSON P. CHILDRESS.

Witnesses: v

JOHN H. SIGGERS. E. G. SIGGERs 

